SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Junior transfer Charles Brown III scored 24 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in his debut as The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team opened the 2017-18 campaign with an 87-71 win over Southwestern Friday evening from the McDermott Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UIW (1-0) scored the game's first eight points before Southwestern (0-0) got on the board four-and-a-half minutes into the contest. The Pirates came within six, but jumpers by Simi Socks and Keaton Hervey sandwiched a Southwestern basket as the Cardinals led by 10, 18-8, with 13:40 left in the first half.

Southwestern used a run to trail by just two, 18-16, following a three-pointer by Brandon Alexander, but the Cardinals answered with six unanswered to take a 24-16 advantage at the halfway point of the opening half.

At the 7:51-mark, the Cardinals recorded three-straight blocked shots, two by Shawn Johnson and one by Socks, as UIW led 24-20.

A steal, followed by a fast-break dunk by Brown III gave UIW its largest lead of the game, 34-23, but Southwestern closed the final 2:55 outscoring the Cardinals, 9-2, to trim the Cardinal lead by four, 36-32, at the break.

A layup by Stan Kannegiester at the 12:17-mark brought the Pirates within four, 50-46, but UIW used a 7-0 run to increase the lead to double-digits, highlighted by Sam Burmeister, who was all over the floor with two points, a defensive rebound, and an assist.

Southwestern came as close as six, following a Luke Hicks free throw, but UIW outscored Southwestern, 19-11, in the final 7:23.

LEADERS

Brown III led all players with 24 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in 31 minutes. It was the most impressive debut for a Cardinal since Burmeister posted 22 points, three rebounds, and three assists in his collegiate debut at Northwood on Nov. 9, 2013. Socks also scored in double figures tonight, dropping 18, while both Burmeister and Christian Peevy scored nine. As a team, the Cardinals shot 42 percent from the floor in the contest.

Southwestern was led by Hicks and Alexander, who each scored 13. Trenton Garrett was the top rebounder with nine. As a team, the Pirates shot 40 percent from the floor.

QUOTES

Assistant Coach John Smith on the game:
"Basketball is a game of runs. We'll take a win any way we can get it. We're fortunate to be 1-0, but we have some things we have to clean up. We have to battle for the loose balls, get tough down the stretch. Coach Burmeister runs a fast-paced practice, so we knew the guys were conditioned, and that was evident down the stretch where the guys were able to get some separation."

On holding Southwestern leading scorer, Ryan Ogden, to six points:
"That was the game plan. He's a good player. You watch him on film and it's amazing what all he's done. The key to us was we didn't let the head of the snake go off. Their secondary players did well, but we shut down the primary players. Kudos to the players and staff."

UP NEXT

UIW gets a short turnaround before hosting cross-281 rival, Trinity, Monday night at 7 p.m.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals continue the home stand facing McMurry next Friday at 6 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on Incarnate Word Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow Incarnate Word Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like Incarnate Word Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.